Changed by Christ Part 2

Here is the second part of Brian "Head" Welch's testimony of his conversion.

Changed by Christ

When people encounter Christ, they are never the same. The most obvious Biblical example of this is the person we are focusing on in this study: the apostle Paul (who was Saul). Another more recent example though is Brian "Head" Welch, who we discussed in our Sunday morning class. Brian was the lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Korn. To most people, Brian had everything one could want: worldwide fame and millions of dollars. But Brian was unsatisifed in his life and was deep in drug addiction. In one interview, Welch said that he "wanted to die." What happened next was extraordinary to many - a friend invited Brian to church and Welch gave his life over to Jesus Christ and in the process beat his drug addiction. Brian left Korn, walking away from millions of dollars, but he doesn't regret it at all. Brian is now focused on living for Christ and making music that reflects the Christian message.

Over the next 3 days I will post Brian "Head" Welch's testimony where he discusses his conversion. Here is part one:

Becoming......

Today in our first Sunday school class of the year, we started a Bible study called "BECOMING" which examines the transformation that Jesus Christ brought about in the life of the apostle Paul. Paul was so changed by his encounter with Christ that by the end of his life, this former Phariseee and persecutor of the Church could make the statement, "For me, to live is Christ." BECOMING is a study that helps us on the journey of discovering our true identity. Ultimately, who we are as individuals is bound in the person of Jesus Christ.

We read the following as an introduction to our study:

Who are you? And don't answer this question by giving your name...

Who are you, really? What makes you...you? What defines your identity? What image do you project? What separates you from the 6.7 billion other people on this planet?

What about you tells the world you're different? That you're valuable? That you have a purpose?

Is it your looks? Your talents? Your intellect? Your passions? Your bank account?

Or, is it something else...something more meaningful? Something more spiritual?

Are you the source of your identity? Or is HE?

Is your identity wrapped up in you? Or in HIM?

With every day that goes by, you make decisions, choices that determine who you are and who you will be. You are growing...physically...mentally...spiritually...

You are BECOMING.

The question is: who you are becoming?

More like HIM? Or more like the world...

Who are you becoming?

Happy New Year!

I'm about four days late with this entry, but I wanted to wish everyone at the Redlands Church of Christ and every member of our youth group a very happy new year. I'm very excited about 2008 and what God is going to do with our youth group and with our church. I'm making it a resolution of mine to use this blog more. Besides updates, calendar events, and recaps on our events (complete with pictures) I'm hoping to add some spiritual reflections, Biblical thoughts, and Christian discussion questions. I encourage any reader of this blog to post responses and/or suggestions.

We have two big events coming up: our first activity for 2008 is this coming Friday night, January 11th at the building. We will have a night of spiritual planning and fun. We’ll reflect on 2007 and set goals for 2008. I want you to be there – so that you can help us plan for the future, as well as set personal spiritual challenges for yourself. Start time is 6:00 p.m.

The second event is the Winter retreat which is currently scheduled for February 8-10th. I cannot stress the importance of this event - we'll establish our theme for the year as well as dig deep into the Bible. We'll also have some great entertainment and fun. THIS will definitely be an event to clear the calendar for. You can miss an athletic event for this one and you can skip a school activity. We only have a retreat like this once a year - I want you there and am praying that every one of our teens will commit to attend this event. Please let me know if you can come ASAP.

In closing, let me leave you with this verse from 1 John 3:18: "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." I love this verse and wanted to use it in my first blog entry for 2008 because it is a challenge for every Christian and should be our calling as members of a church & youth group. God does not just want us to say we love each other, but he call us to actual genuine deeds and works of kindness. HE's pushing us beyond our comfort zone, to a higher form of love. This will be one of our focal points for this year - to go beyond just hanging out on Sundays and at youth events, and to truly care for each other through selfless giving and putting the needs of others above our own needs.

Christmas Party

I hope everyone had a great time at our Christmas party yesterday. Thanks to the Kays for opening up their home for our party and a special thanks for Debbie for cooking an incredible lunch! It was an honor to have Steve and Carol Smith as our special guests. The scavenger hunt at Tyler Mall was fun - congratulations to Briana and Kathryn who placed first. Ryan and Joey placed second (technically they tied for first, but Bri and Kathryn turned in their paper first) and Jon and Rikki placed third. We pray that all of our teens and their families will have a safe and happy Christmas. We're excited about 2008 and the wonderful things that God has planned for us.

Operation Christmas Child - Church of Christ Style!

Operation Christmas Child was definitely a success at our church. It was so impressive and overwhelming to see 60 boxes underneath and surrounding our Christmas tree in the worship hall. Consider that this is the first time our church has participated in this worthy service activity AND consider that we just had four weeks to get as many boxes together as we can! The boxes are going to a drop-off location this week where they will be shipped off to needy children in numerous countries around the world. I know that much time, money and love went into creating these boxes. Thanks to everyone who helped put these boxes together and helped make our first Operation Christmas Child such a rousing success. Continue to pray for Samaritan's Purse and for all the children around the world who will receive these boxes. Pray that during this upcoming Christmas season the greatest gift of all will be shared, the gift of God's love.

Here is a story from the Philippines about just one of the 7.6 million boxes that were delivered last year: Receiving a fully-packed shoe box made one young boy very happy. His mother is a laundry woman and his father is a janitor and is partially paralyzed. He helped pay for his Grade 3 schooling by driving a wooden trolley along a railroad track. He lived in a house 2 meters away from the railroad track and is an active member of a pioneering Presbyterian Church.The gifts were personalized for the recipient of the box. Letters, cut-outs, and posters were with it. His box was amazing! It came from a retired Union Pacific railroad worker and was received by a boy who transports people using a handmade trolley that runs alongside a Philippine national railroad track. Amazing! God connects people by a railroad track!

You can read more inspirational stories at: www.samaritanspurse.org/occstories

We probably started a tradition tonight! We headed up to Greenspot Farms for a truly frightening haunted hayride, complete with loud screams, chainsaws, deranged killers, and a long walk fending off other types of creatures. Then it was back to the church building where there was some intense pumpkin carving. The results were awesome. While we carved we listened to some Halloween music (The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack), drank hot apple cider and hot chocolate, and had candy and cookies. Great job on those pumpkins - for those of you who weren't there, check out those pics and see what you missed!